Wagon-reach coupling



(No Model.)

E. S. GUSHMAN.

WAGON REACH GOUPLING.

No. 392,543. Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

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ELI/IER S. CUSHMAN, OF DELHI MILLS, MICHIGAN.

'WAGONeRECl-l COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,543, dated November 6, 188B.

Application filed August 1, 188B.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMnR S. CUsHnniN, of Delhi Mills, in the county of Washtenaw and State of Michigamhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tagen-Reach Couplers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this speciiication, in which- Figure l is a plan view of a portion of the running-gear of a vehicle, showing my improved reach-coupling applied. Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section through Fig. l, showing the reach let out. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side view of a modification, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a modification.

This invention is an improvement incouplers for the reaches of vehicle running-gears; and its objects are to provide an improved locking coupler especially adapted for use on a singlereach wagon, and to so construct the same that the reach can be properly secured to the rear portion of the running-gear without necessarily passing through the rear axle or being directly connected therewith.

Io these ends the invention consists in the novel construction of the coupler and the locking devices thereof, as will be hereinafter described, and specifically stated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A indicates the rear axle of a vehicle runninggear; B, the reach, and O G the opposite braces or hounds7 connected to the opposite ends of the axle, and usually at their front ends to a metallic plate or ring, to which the reach is also attached. In the present case, however, the coupler D takes the place of said plate or ring. rlhis coupler consists of a top plate, E, from the bottom of which depend two parallel flanges, F F. rIhe plate has lateraIwings e @extending beyond said anges, and by which the plate is supported on and connected to the ends of the opposite hounds C C, which are properly'beveled to fit against the outside of the flanges F F, and are secured to the plate E by bolts ff, which pass through their ends and proper perforations in wings ec. The plate E thus forms a rigid connection between hounds C C, while flanges F F Serial No. 281,690. (No model.)

separate them sufficiently to permit the pas sage of the reach B,which works between said iianges, and is confined by the top plate, E, and a bottom plate, G, which may be cast integral with flanges F, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or may be separate therefrom and secured in place by the bolts j', which pass through `perforations in its sides, as well as through the hounds and wings c, as shown in Fig. 5. At the opposite ends of the plate E, which is elongated, as shown, are formed two enlargements, II II, Figs. l and 2, and beneath these enlargements, between anges F F, are formed recesses h, in which fit loosely two follower-plates, I I, as shown. From the center of enlargements II rise bosses J J ,which have central screw-threaded perforations, in which Work set-screws K K, the inner ends of which impinge against plates I I. The reach B passes through the coupler-frame, as shown, and when desired the screws K K can be tightened, forcing plates I I down upon the reach and binding it rmly in the frame, as is evident. The plates I I prevent the screws cutting i nto the reach and weakening the same, and, it' desired, they might be dispensed with and the reach faced with metal, as shown at z, Fig. 4C. One set-screw would be ordinarily sufficient to lock the reach securely, as shown in Fig. 4; but I employ two, so"`that I may dispense with the use of an extra reach when the gear has to be lengthened to accommodate a very long frame, as I can then draw the reach entirely away from the axle, as shown in Fig. 2, until the end just extends through the coupler, and by then tightening theV setscrews the reach is securely locked and the gear can be turned without danger of breakage, the strain of turning being transmitted from the end of the reach to the coupler, and from thence through hounds C C to the axle.- I am thus enabled to utilize the portion 0f the reach heretofore necessary to extend from the connected ends of the hounds to the axle. It will be seen that the reach does not have to be perforated for the passage of retaining-bolts, that it can be readily adjusted to any point of its length, and then can be securely clamped by the set-screws.

Having described my invention, I claim-- I. The combination of the axle, hounds, and reach with the coupler composed of a top ICO plate secured to said hounds, formed with' laterally-projecting perforated Wings, and hav- I ing depending flanges arranged between the ends 0f the hounds, and between which the reach passes, the bottom plate, and bindingserew playing through an opening in the top plate and adapted to lock the reach, substantially as specied.

2. The combination of the rear axle and its hounds and reach with the coupler consisting of a top plate having lateral perforated l wings, a pair of depending flanges, and recessed enlargements and perforated bosses thereon, a bottom plate below said flanges, the follower-plates under the recessed enlargements, and the set-screws engaging said plates, all constructed and adapted to operate substantially as described.

3. The herein-described coupler, composed of a top plate having a pair of depending parallel flanges, lateral perforated Wings, an enlargement on its upper surface, and a recess beneath said enlargement between the llanges, playing through said enlargement, a follower-plate resting in said recess, and a detachable bottom plate, all constructed substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WM. G. Do'rY, J. M. V'ILLcoXsoN. 

